Spitfire R6696 near Lockington, East Yorkshire.
On 7th August 1940 this 616 Squadron aircraft dived into the ground near Lockington at 02.45hrs during a searchlight co-operation exercise. The exact location of the crash site is not known nor is the reason for the aircraft entering the dive. People on the ground later reported hearing the aircraft's engine spluttering just before it crashed.
Pilot - P/O Robert Archer Smith RAFVR (82947), aged 26, of Westham, Pevensey, Sussex. Buried Leconfield Churchyard, Yorkshire.
P/O Smith's gravestone at Leconfield. He received a commission on 18th June 1940 (with seniority back dated to 28th April 1940) to the rank of P/O on probation. His name
does not appear on the Battle of Britain Roll of Honour because there is currently no proof that he flew any operational flights during the Battle of Britain period (which a
minimum of one operational flight is required for inclusion on the memorial roll and tablets).
Spitfire R6696 was built to contract 19713/39 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd. at Woolston and was first test flown on 5th June 1940. The following day it was
alloted to the RAE Farnborough but this appears to have not been taken up as on 7th June 1940 it was taken on charge by 616 Squadron at Leconfield. It was written off with
Cat.W/FA damage being recorded on 7th August 1940 following the accident detailed above.